Holding on Among the Falling

Image Critiques
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1

Original - IMG5DMarkIV_2325NPN3MB.jpg
Original - IMG5DMarkIV_2325NPN3MB.jpg1800×1800 2 MB

Weekly Challenge

Decay and Renewal
10/25/26 - 10/31/26
Critique Style: Standard

The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.

Feedback Focus: Artistic / Expressive

About This Image

This photograph was made in the Stinson Flats area of Washington state during the recent PNW Regional Group meetup. I was original drawn to the beauty of the colorful leaf, but I stayed with the subject a bit longer because of the character in the dried up leaves behind it.

Feedback Requested

I’m mostly participating in the weekly challenge, but I’m always open to any and all feedback. In particular:

  1. Do the specular highlights distract too much? I felt they were central to the experience of the location, but I’m not sure they work in presentation.
  2. What about the oof trees?
  3. Do you see a better crop, maybe just the bottom 2/3rds in a more horizontal aspect ratio?

Thanks as always for any thoughts you have on my work,

ML

Technical Details

Canon 5D4 with 100-400mm at 100mm

ISO 320, f/6, 1/40s

2

Marylynne, the red/green combination in the leaves is a fine attention grabber. The dead leaves in the cluster add well to the “story”. I think you could have gotten closer with that lens to get a view just that of the main branch and it’s leaves, although that might have required a stack to get the entire collection of leaves sharp.